Books about Books, Bookstores and Libraries

There is something magical about books, it’s no wonder that books, bookstores and libraries are often themes, settings and sometimes characters within novels. For me, the book represents a tangible object or a portal for knowledge, and a doorway to another reality. This list is a starting point for books that are geared toward book lovers, about books, libraries and bookstores.

Recently widowed, A. J. Fikry’s life is in a downward spiral emotionally, and also financially as the bookstore he owns is experiencing hardship. He has begun to isolate himself from the people of his town, even when his friends and family try to help, he pushes them away. Then when things couldn’t get any worse, his rare collection of Poe’s poems has been stolen. A mysterious package arrives, and with that a new purpose. This book is about second chances, why we read and why we love.

This is a clever book about bookstore that is more than meets the eye. Books, puzzles and adventure are what you get as you step into the world of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore. Perfect for the tech geek, as technology plays large role in the book.

It’s a tale of books and technology, cryptography and conspiracy, friendship and love. It begins in a mysterious San Francisco bookstore, but quickly reaches out into the wider world and the shadowed past. -Robin Sloan

Monsieur Perdu calls himself a literary apothecary. His role is to prescribe books to the patrons of his book store. However, he is unable to heal himself through literature. This book has a few subplots that take away from the premise of book prescription, but they are all connected to readers of books.

This book uses Death as a narrator but the story is about the importance of books, the comfort they can bring, the escape they provide and the ability for books to shape your life and humanity. This is set in WWII Germany. Liesel is separated from her mother and placed with a foster family, her foster father teaches her to read. She then shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.

A digestible story about a novice biographer, Margaret Lea writing the biography of a elderly writer Vida Winter. Written in the gothic style, it’s about stories, books, writers and the creepy past that haunts the mansion. There are heavy references to the following books Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, & The Woman in White. This reveals a multi-generational story told by reflecting on the past.

This is the first book of the Thursday Next novels. This books makes literature a device for time travel in the most literary way. Someone begins kidnapping characters from works of literature and plucks Jane Eyre from the pages of Brontë’s novel, Thursday Next is faced with the challenge of her career.

This is the first book in a fast paced urban fantasy/dark fantasy series. This is one where the book is a character. (Warning, this series is adult in theme and content, yes, there is swearing and sex.) (2nd Warning: There are trigger warnings for rape and assault.)

“DARKFEVER is masterfully rendered, a dark and sexy fantasy featuring a Buffy of the Fae, with a sly sense of humor and maturity of handling that’s a delight to read.”
~ Bookpage